Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
52% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $19,027 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($98,800 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $19,027/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$19,027
$64,432 vs $45,405/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
52% lower
498.2 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Median Home Value
$156k less
$98,800 vs $254,900
Toledo
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.4 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 37.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fargo to Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $98,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Toledo, OH are about 746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.